Teenage Krajicek joins the big time

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If your brother was in the Wimbledon final, what would you do?
Demand tickets next to the royal box? Buy a wide-screen TV? Pass
out from excitement?

Michaella Krajicek opted to play with her Barbie. But, then, in
July 1996 she was just seven and dolls held her attention for a lot
longer than a sports event on TV, even if the picture showed her
half-brother Richard beating MaliVai Washington in straight
sets.

These days she looks forward to appearing in a Wimbledon singles
final of her own. Krajicek, 15, was last week named the
International Tennis Federation junior world champion for 2004 and
hopes to play 14 tour events next year and rocket up the
rankings.

The Hopman Cup does not offer ranking points but is a good
pointer to her capacity to handle the games of players in their
prime. The Dutchwoman partners Peter Wessels in the opening session
of the tournament at the Burswood Dome, a qualifying tie against
Zimbabwe's Cara and Wayne Black on Saturday.

"The biggest difference between the two levels is that seniors
are smarter," said Krajicek. "A lot of young players get mad about
something and lose concentration. Seniors don't get rattled and
play every point hard, right to the end."

Richard, who plays on the Tour of Champions, was invited to
partner her in the Hopman Cup but was ruled out by a conflicting
engagement involving a tournament of which he is director.

Russian Marat Safin also has a conflicting engagement but worked
out a compromise with cup chief executive Rick Williams, which will
result in a scheduling change.

Safin was told earlier this week he was to be honoured by
Russia's parliamentarians at a state banquet on New Year's Eve. He
did not want to show any disrespect towards his nation's leaders by
not accepting his award in person and asked the Hopman Cup
organisers to rearrange Russia's draw.

Considering he and French Open champion Anastasia Myskina are
the top foreign drawcards, the officials reacted with alacrity.
Instead of playing Italy on the morning of January 2, the Russians
will instead play their first tie against Germany on the evening of
January 3, allowing Safin time to fly to Perth.

The Russia-Italy tie has been postponed to January 6.

Meanwhile, world No. 24 Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic will
miss the Australian Open next month because of fatigue and
increasing family commitments.

Novak said: "I don't know when I'll be back on the circuit. I
need some rest and so I will surely not make it to Australia."

The 29-year-old Novak, a father of three, even said it was time
to reduce the number of professional appearances at tournaments.
"As of now I want to compete less. Family has to come first for
me," he said.

Promising Australian Todd Reid will return to action with a
wildcard into the Australian Hardcourt Championships in Adelaide,
starting on Monday.

Reid, 20, has recovered from a bout of glandular fever to rule
himself fit for his third appearance in the Adelaide main draw,
reaching the quarter-finals a year ago.